Robbie Williams will headline the Telstra Pre-match entertainment at the 2022 Toyota AFL Grand Final as the decider returns to the MCG.
Fresh from performing two exclusive performances in Australia to celebrate the filming of his biopic ‘Better Man’, British pop superstar Robbie Williams has confirmed he will headline the pre-match entertainment at the 2022 AFL Grand Final.
The Angels, Rock DJ and Let Me Entertain You singer has been confirmed as the headline act of this year’s premiership decider, which returns to the MCG for the first time since 2019.
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Williams, who has sold 80 million records worldwide in a solo career spanning 25 years, will open the Grand Final in front of a capacity MCG crowd. He will also pick his band for the performance, which will feature Australian musicians.
“I am so excited to be performing for all the fans, on the hallowed turf of the MCG, for the biggest game of the year,” Williams said.
“I’m really looking forward to performing with a cast of very talented local Australian musicians and I can’t wait to see you all on that last Saturday in September.
“If it goes well, I might even put my hand up to be the next CEO of the AFL.”
Williams joined Take That in 1990 at only 16, and more than 30 years later has achieved a total of 18 Brit Awards. Williams’ writing, recording and performances have set him apart in making a lasting impact on British culture, recognising the very highest level of British musical achievement.
From his breakthrough global smash hit ‘Angels’, through to pop anthems ‘Let Me Entertain You’, ‘Millennium’, ‘Come Undone’, ‘Kids’, ‘Feel’, ‘Rock DJ’, and more, Robbie Williams’ unparalleled catalogue is a career-defining generational soundtrack.
Let me entertain you! @robbiewilliams is officially headlining the @Telstra Pre Game Entertainment at the 2022 @Toyota_Aus AFL Grand Final!
Details: https://t.co/VIpCZFUQbS#TelstraPreGame | #AFLGF pic.twitter.com/XJILPaRXkR
— AFL (@AFL) July 1, 2022
Williams headlining AFL’s biggest day is a huge coup for the AFL, with outgoing boss Gillon McLachlan saying Williams would put on a show befitting the event.
“We are back at the MCG, back in front of 100,000 fans and no better performer than Robbie Williams to help amplify the atmosphere ahead of the biggest sporting event in the country,” McLachlan said.
The League’s manager of commercial and customer Kylie Rogers said a number of Australian acts would also be involved in the pre-game entertainment, so watch this space. With Mushroom Group CEO Matt Gudinski (who brought the Foo Fighters to Geelong mere months ago) in charge, you can bet to see “one of the greatest Grand Final pre-game spectacles of all time”, with a half-time show involving homegrown talent also being devised.